ABSTRACT
In an effort to examine thigh muscle strength following partial arthroscopic meniscectomy of the knee, 24 surgical patients were studied. They were divided into group 1 (age <20 years), group 2 (age 24-45 years), and group 3 (age >50 years). Subjects were studied immediately after surgery, weekly during isokinetic rehabilitation, and weekly after release from rehabilitation for 3 weeks. Termination of isokinetic rehabilitation occurred when quadriceps muscle strength achieved 85% recovery of the nonsurgical leg. Approximately 50% quadriceps muscle strength loss was observed at the time of the initial isokinetic test. No significant difference existed among the three groups in terms of days from the time of surgery to the start of the first test, or for the number of weeks to release from rehabilitation. Results indicate that age alone does not appear to be a limiting factor in regaining muscle strength following arthroscopic meniscectomy.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1988;10(3):87-92.
ABSTRACT
The postoperative rehabilitation of individuals who've had surgery has been a primary concern of all members of the health care community. With the advent of new training devices for use during the rehabilitation period (i.e., isokinetic training devices) and new research in sports medicine, there has been a renewed interest in how to best rehabilitate individuals following surgery (knee surgery, in particular). This paper briefly reviews basic muscle physiology as it relates to muscle fiber types and recruitment patterns. Subsequently, it reviews studies that have investigated muscle atrophy and methods to reduce muscle dysfunction related to surgery, immobilization, and disuse. Finally, it reviews isokinetic training studies and examines the concept of "specificity of speed" training. These principles of muscle physiology and muscle plasticity are then applied to a proposed isokinetic rehabilitation program which might be adapted for use following joint surgery.
